May

8

Hear the leaves applaud the wind

By Rachel | Music Mix Up | 4 Comments 

volume

Image found here

I can sum up today’s day with one word, lame. Work, OBGYN appointment and traffic, no thank you. Tonight I just want to sit back, press play and turn the volume up…

mp3: Birds

Emilíana Torrini on myspace

Me And Armini 2008 (Rough Trade)

Music always brings a smile to my face. :-)

Also available on eMusic

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May

6

Forget all we’ve learned

By Rachel | News & Info. | 5 Comments 

piers-faccini

It was Cinco de Mayo but I did not feel very festive… Sometimes I wonder where the time goes. It is my 10 year reunion this year and lately I have been catching up with friends from high school and it has been a trip and a half. Basically I dropped off the face of the planet when I graduated and the majority of these people I have not known for 10 years. For me it is a strange, awkward and a little nerve racking, running into people I used to party and socialize with in high school… I feel like a completely different person now… So this Friday there is going to be a party for my high school swimming coach as she is retiring after 20 years of coaching. I am actually looking forward to catching up with former teammates as I feel like we shared a much deeper bond then that of the friends I merely socialized with. I think being on a high school sports team is a really valuable experience for any teenager, you have a deep connection with your teammates and it is something I have learned to appreciate in my old age!

I have been listening to the amazing singer songwriter, Piers Faccini who takes up residence in France. His new album, Two Grains of Sand was released last month in Europe and will be available in the US very soon . It is currently available on eMusic.

mp3:  Two Grains of Sand

Two Grains of Sand 2009 (Tôt ou Tard)

Piers Faccini on myspace

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May

3

The Weight Of Us

By Rachel | Music Mix Up | 9 Comments 

sanders-bohlke

I have been listening to this song non-stop for the last few days, it is gorgeous. Sanders Bohlke is a wonderful indie folk infused singer-songwriter,  he has a new EP coming out soon and I am looking forward to it.

Check out his 2005 self -titled album! Purchase a copy here.

Link to purchase: eMusic or Amazon MP3

The Weight Of Us 2009 (Sanders Bohlke)

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Apr

30

I hear the sound of mandolins

By Rachel | Music Mix Up | 6 Comments 

nina_simone

I think this song is one the most beautiful songs of all time. Nina Simone’s cover is so dramatic, she infuses so much emotion into each note as the piano melody sends chills down my spine. I play it over and over and yet I listen to it as if it was for the first time. You may have heard this song most recently in the trailer for Revolutionary Road, which if you have not had a chance to see I would recommend a viewing. At first I was not impressed because I didn’t really cry and this something very odd because I cry at most movies. Now, that I think back to it… I think I was more angry at the characters, which means they must have been doing something right…

mp3: Wild is the Wind

Wild is the Wind 1966 (Verve)

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Apr

29

Put Out The Fire

By Rachel | Album Picks, Music Mix Up | 8 Comments 

florence-and-the-machine

I am feeling much better… Finally. They did indeed make sure I did not have the Swine Flu as I had a lot of the same symptoms. I have never been in a hospital bed before but I am no stranger to hospital beds as I visited my dad daily. Hospitals are scary places for all and as I was laying there waiting I began thinking… You feel so helpless and vulnerable in your open back gown and thin cold sheet. You wait for results and answers only to be poked and proded to await for more answers. Alarms sound, monitors beep and you can hear strange mysterious noises coming from the walls… Then you wait some more. I was one of the lucky ones and for that I am quite thankful.

Came across Florence and the Machine, which is a UK based band headed by singer Florence Welch. Similar to fellow UK artist Kate Nash but I feel Welch shows entirely more promise then Nash ever has. Her debut full length will be released in July but a little EP teaser is available on eMusic. Enjoy!

mp3:  Hospital Beds (Cold War Kids Cover)

A Lot Of Love, A Lot Of Blood EP 2009 (I Am Sound)

Florence and the Machine on myspace

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Apr

25

Sick As A Dog

By Rachel | News & Info. | 6 Comments 

sick-as-a-dog

Sick as a dog image found here

“Sick as a dog” is a funny expression but that has been me for the last 3 days, this sickness even landed me in the emergency room last night. I had a high fever of 104 and severe dehydration. They took an x-ray to ensure I didn’t have any fluid on my lungs and gave me an IV of fluid and some sort of drug. Currently on the mend.

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Apr

22

Calling Moon And Moon

By Rachel | Album Picks | 11 Comments 

I have been listening to the new album from Bat For Lashes (Natasha Khan)… This is the second full length album from this England based songwriter. Although there were only a couple of tracks I enjoyed from her first album, Fur and Gold her second album has certainly appealed to me differently. Her music is really quite visual, colors flow and dance around with so much grace, it is just so very beautiful… So I thought it was highly appropriate to post a song off her new album, Two Suns as it is one of my favorite songs off the album and  one of my favorite songs of 2009 so far.

Highly appropriate because the Contrast Podcast posted Part 2 of our Favorite songs of 2009 so far. Go have a listen! And if you missed last weeks you can find it here.

mp3:  Moon And Moon

Two Suns 2009 (Astralwerks)

Bat For Lashes on myspace

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Apr

19

Left at first and down to third

By Rachel | Album Picks | Leave a Comment 

I know, I have been so very neglectful of the blog. Quite honestly, I have been listening to Alexi Murdoch 24/7 so I haven’t been listening to much of anything else. Ha! I am playing catch up once again, but that is alright because the new system at my day job should start to kick in and allow me more time in my day, which is something I have been looking forward to.

I have been listening to Telekinesis aka Michael Lerner who hails from Washington, he creates some awesome 60/70’s infused indie rock. His first full length album was released this month through Merge. Well done indeed.

Hope you enjoy!

mp3:  Coast of Carolina

Telekinesis! 2009 (Merge Records)

Also available on eMusic

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Apr

14

Information Overload

By Rachel | Music Mix Up | 2 Comments 

I think this album art is stunning

Spending most of this evening catching up, it has been a busy couple of weeks and I have been away from my keyboard most of the weekend… So tonight as I look back on what I have missed I am simply taking it all in while listening to the new album from The Veils, which has one of my favorite songs of 2009 on it. That’s right I said it!

mp3:  Sit Down By The Fire

The Veils on myspace

Sun Gangs 2009 (Rough Trade)

Also available on eMusic

p.s. You must head over to the Contrast Podcast and check out this weeks CP, The best music of 2009 (so far). You can hear another one of my favs and listen to all the wonderful selections which I am sure will please.

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Apr

10

Towards The Sun

By Rachel | Music Mix Up | Leave a Comment 

Quick post tonight but none the less important by any means. I took off early from work last night headed north to the El Rey theater in LA to see Alexi Murdoch… I had previously seen dearest Alexi at the Hotel Cafe, which was a solo acoustic performance and far more intimate. Last night he performed with a full band and it was quite interesting to experience both. However, I have tried for the last 24 hours to decide which I might prefer and I could not bring myself to make such a decision… Surprise, surprise. All I can say is, when I hear Alexi’s music whether it be on my headphones or live… There is so much beauty and grace to his music that I almost can’t even breathe… There is a lot to take in, so much to appreciate and enjoy.

We got an unexpected treat as well… I really didn’t think it could get any better but it did… Towards The Sun is a 7 song limited edition short album/long EP that I have been listening to non-stop since I exited the theater and got into my car. A possible sample soon to come but for now try to catch him live he is currently touring.

The Portland Cello Project opened for Alexi last night and I was quite pleased I caught them as this was their last show for this tour. They have a new album coming out in June.

mp3:  Gold (featuring Weinland)

Portland Cello Project 2008

Also availble on eMusic

p.s. This post was not that quick… ha

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